Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
up a standard store bought brownie mix?
Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
future reference......
Thanks

On Fri 30 May 2008 02:31:33p, Goomba told us...

> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks
>

Add some chips, chocolate (dark or white), frost them, then use some white
chocolate to decorate the top.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Friday, 05(V)/30(XXX)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Laugh alone and the world thinks
you're an idiot
-------------------------------------------

On May 30, 2:31*pm, Goomba > wrote:
> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks

Get some mini chocolate-covered peanut butter cups. Prepare the mix
using extra eggs (for the "cakey" kind of brownie. Use a cupcake pan
with cupcake liners - fill half full. Place one unwrapped peanut
butter cup in each and push down. Bake as per directions on the mix.

Another way is to make a standard pan of brownies and before baking
top with a package of chocolate chips spread evenly across. Again,
going the cakey route is the best option for the batter.

Susan B.

sueb wrote:

> Get some mini chocolate-covered peanut butter cups. Prepare the mix
> using extra eggs (for the "cakey" kind of brownie. Use a cupcake pan
> with cupcake liners - fill half full. Place one unwrapped peanut
> butter cup in each and push down. Bake as per directions on the mix.
>
Oh lordie, but this sounds good!

Goomba > wrote:
:Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
:up a standard store bought brownie mix?
:Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
:me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
:brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
:future reference......
:Thanks

Peanut butter swirled in. Dried raspberries (soaked slightly to plump
'em a bit.). Chocolate chips.

--
sig 79

Goomba wrote:
> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks

Well.... Back in the day, we used to ... Never mind!

Goomba wrote:

> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks


Use melted, salted butter instead of vegetable oil. And add an 8 oz bag
of tollhouse chips per 9 x 13 pan.

On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:31:33 -0400, Goomba >
wrote:
> to dress
>up a standard store bought brownie mix?

Put half batter in pan, then layer in three of the large Hershey's
bars...about 2 X 6, then top with remaining batter. Bake as usual.

In article >,
Goomba > wrote:

> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks

Chocolate chips.
Or some frozen raspberries, straight into the mix.

Miche

--
Electricians do it in three phases

Goomba wrote:

> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks

Keg???? Brownies????
That will be interesting.
:-)

Goomba wrote:

> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks

For some time when beer is not being served with brownies....... sprinkle
chunks of candied ginger on top of the brownies. I know it sounds horrible.
They do that at a nice bakery around the corner from me. I resisted them for
a long time but when I finally tried one it was really good.

Goomba wrote:
>
> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks

Way back when one of the usual name brand brownie box mixes had a recipe
for cheesecake brownies where you upgraded the brownie mix with a
cheesecake layer in the middle. I have no idea where that recipe went,
but it shouldn't be that difficult to recreate it. The resulting
brownies were quite good.

On May 30, 6:16*pm, "Pete C." > wrote:
> Goomba wrote:
>
> > Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> > up a standard store bought brownie mix?
>
> Way back when one of the usual name brand brownie box mixes had a recipe
> for cheesecake brownies where you upgraded the brownie mix with a
> cheesecake layer in the middle. I have no idea where that recipe went,
> but it shouldn't be that difficult to recreate it.

I got a recipe for cream cheese brownies from http://adamcadre.ac a
hundred years ago (he has since removed recipes from his site, more's
the pity). The filling was:

3 oz. cream cheese
2 tbsp. butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Cream the cheese and butter together, then add the sugar and cream
until smooth. Add the egg & mix; add the flour & vanilla; mix again.

(His recipe had the "brownie" part too, but you could presumably use
this with a brownie mix.) He suggested putting down a layer of
brownie, then a layer of this filling, then finishing with a layer of
brownie. I made these once from his recipe and they were excellent.

Me, I'm thinking, why not add Kahlua to your mix?
--
Daphne

On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:31:33 -0400, Goomba >
wrote:

>Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
>up a standard store bought brownie mix?
>Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
>me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
>brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
>future reference......
>Thanks

Although I usually start from scratch, these additions will work for
any recipe or mix...

I make rocky road brownies and add miniature marshmallows, pecans, and
semi-sweet morsels.

I have also been known to layer the top of the brownies with chocolate
covered thin mints about a minute or two before they are ready to come
out of the oven. I then swirl that around as a sort of chocolate mint
frosting.

Boron

Goomba wrote:
> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks


I usually throw a cup of chocolate chips into the mix and pecans.

I also have two recipes that make yummy variations:

--cream cheese beaten with egg and sugar and swirled through the batter

--melted caramels and something (butter, maybe?) swirled in the batter.

If you are interested I will look up and post one or both recipes.
Both are yummy.

gloria p

On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:31:33 -0400, Goomba >
wrote:

>Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
>up a standard store bought brownie mix?
>Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
>me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
>brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
>future reference......
>Thanks

IMO, making "fudgy" brownies is the way to go. Fudgy is good for a
confectioner's sugar dusting, prettied up by using a doily template
Bake a little longer to make the brownies cakier and you can frost
them with chocolate chips. Just place the chips on the hot batch of
brownies, wait a minute and spread. They don't visibly melt, but they
soften up so you can spread them easily.

--
See return address to reply by email
remove the smile first

On May 30, 4:31*pm, Goomba > wrote:
> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> future reference......
> Thanks

"Standard store bought brownie mix" can not be made "special," unless
you're using the word, "special" as a synonym for retarded, in which
case you could add artificial chocolate chips and those horrific,
brightly colored sprinkles.

--Bryan

On May 30, 3:39 pm, Dave Bell > wrote:

> Well.... Back in the day, we used to ... Never mind!

Hey Dave, thanks for the best laugh I've had all day! ;-D

"Goomba" > wrote in message
...
> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress up a
> standard store bought brownie mix?
> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked me to make
> a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some brownies but wanted
> to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for future reference......
> Thanks

Just off the top of my head:
*Mix up some macaroon batter (coconut kind) and spread atop the brownies
*Add the caramel "chips" from Kraft..they're little balls of caramel, about the size
of chocolate chips
*Add the zest of an orange and some orange oil, drizzle with orange glaze
*Add white chocolate chunks or chips, then drizzle with melted white chocolate
*Add Hershey's raspberry chocolate chips or the mini peppermint patties! They also
have raspberry cups, peanut butter cups, etc.
*put 1/2 the batter in the pan, then layer with peppermint patties, and add the rest
of the batter
*Add toasted pecans, then drizzle with caramel
*bake as per usual, let cool. Prepare a basic cream cheese frosting, adding
peppermint oil (a lil dab will do ya!) and, if desired, some green food coloring.
Spread evenly over brownies, and chill for 15 minutes. Melt some dark chocolate, and
when the brownies have chilled, pour over and spread quickly before it sets.
*Add toffee bits and roasted, chopped almonds, frosting if desired.

kimberly

Dave Smith wrote:
> Goomba wrote:
>
>> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
>> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
>> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
>> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
>> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
>> future reference......
>> Thanks
>
> For some time when beer is not being served with brownies....... sprinkle
> chunks of candied ginger on top of the brownies. I know it sounds horrible.
> They do that at a nice bakery around the corner from me. I resisted them for
> a long time but when I finally tried one it was really good.
>
>
I think the party is an all day (night?) affair. I'm sure someone will
want a brownie in between pours, right?

I had candied ginger, darn it!! NOW you tell me....geesh.

Dave Smith wrote:
> Goomba wrote:
>
>> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
>> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
>> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
>> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
>> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
>> future reference......
>> Thanks
>
> Keg???? Brownies????
> That will be interesting.
> :-)

Fratboys.. whatdyaspect?

To everyone who submitted ideas for the brownie fix up... THANK YOU!! I
will remember many of these ideas. The peanut butter or cheesecake
filling ones sound ideal! Salted peanuts go well with chocolate so
Salted peanuts also would go well with the keg, hence would chocolate go
with beer? Hmmmmmmm?

I even donated some flank steaks to the cook out. Am I not the coolest
mom EVER!??! Not long ago I did make the birthday boy sit at the table
trying shots of my Limoncello one night. I think he likes to let me feed
and pamper him a bit.

I'd like to get there and pour everyone a cup and lift their car keys
and take 'em off. Let themselves get stoopid in a
contained'environment. It will all be there if need be. SuperMom to the
Rescue!

Goomba wrote:

>
> >> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
> >> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
> >> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
> >> future reference......
> >> Thanks
> >
> > Keg???? Brownies????
> > That will be interesting.
> > :-)
>
> Fratboys.. whatdyaspect?

I suspected as much. I was more concerned about the reaction between the
chocolate and the beer. Perhaps they have stronger constitutions than I.

Goomba wrote:

>
> > For some time when beer is not being served with brownies....... sprinkle
> > chunks of candied ginger on top of the brownies. I know it sounds horrible.
> > They do that at a nice bakery around the corner from me. I resisted them for
> > a long time but when I finally tried one it was really good.
> >
> >
> I think the party is an all day (night?) affair. I'm sure someone will
> want a brownie in between pours, right?
>
> I had candied ginger, darn it!! NOW you tell me....geesh.

When I tried to deconstruct the recipe I added the ginger with the raw batter it
turned out weird. It affected the texture and the taste. The brownies were more
cake-like and the chocolate flavour faded. I dared to complain about my results
to the baker and she said to add the ginger chunks later. That worked.

I don't know why I thought it would be a bad combination. Somewhere along the
line I acquired a tasted for chocolate dipped ginger. That stuff is addictive.

On Fri, 30 May 2008 19:05:11 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>Goomba wrote:
>
>> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
>> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
>> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
>> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
>> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
>> future reference......
>> Thanks
>
>Keg???? Brownies????
>That will be interesting.
>:-)
>

i must confess that was my reaction as well. except maybe hash
brownies.

your pal,
blake

On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:31:33 -0400, Goomba > wrote:

>Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
>up a standard store bought brownie mix?
>Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
>me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
>brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
>future reference......
>Thanks
Butterscotch cream cheese frosting. Sounds wierd I suppose but I love 'em.

Goomba > wrote in
:

> To everyone who submitted ideas for the brownie fix up...
> THANK YOU!! I will remember many of these ideas. The peanut
> butter or cheesecake filling ones sound ideal! Salted
> peanuts go well with chocolate so Salted peanuts also would
> go well with the keg, hence would chocolate go with beer?
> Hmmmmmmm?

of course. haven't you ever had a chocolate stout? we have,
in our seasonal rotation or brews, a very nice chocolate
peppermint stout (neither of us like it, but it's in huge
demand as holiday gifts). we're currently working on
developing a chocolate cherry-chile stout...
so, yeah, chocolate & beer go together just fine
lee
--
Last night while sitting in my chair
I pinged a host that wasn't there
It wasn't there again today
The host resolved to NSA.

enigma wrote:

> of course. haven't you ever had a chocolate stout? we have,
> in our seasonal rotation or brews, a very nice chocolate
> peppermint stout (neither of us like it, but it's in huge
> demand as holiday gifts). we're currently working on
> developing a chocolate cherry-chile stout...
> so, yeah, chocolate & beer go together just fine
> lee

No, never heard of it! I'm not a big beer drinker so might not be up on
all the variations available out there. LOL, My son (and his frat
brothers) all seem to be up on all things beer, wine and liquor. I'll
have to ask him if he knows of it?
I did try some beer with blueberries in it and it was...different. Not
my cuppa, so to speak.

Dave Smith wrote:

> When I tried to deconstruct the recipe I added the ginger with the raw batter it
> turned out weird. It affected the texture and the taste. The brownies were more
> cake-like and the chocolate flavour faded. I dared to complain about my results
> to the baker and she said to add the ginger chunks later. That worked.
>
> I don't know why I thought it would be a bad combination. Somewhere along the
> line I acquired a tasted for chocolate dipped ginger. That stuff is addictive.

Yes, I've been purchasing chocolate dipped ginger from Earthfare market
lately. Some just don't get it, but I find it as addictive as you.

wrote:

> Butterscotch cream cheese frosting. Sounds wierd I suppose but I love 'em.
>
>
recipe, please?
I love butterscotch anything!

I always throw in a couple of handfuls of M&Ms to the brownie mix. Everyone loves them.

Goomba > wrote in
:

> enigma wrote:
>
>> of course. haven't you ever had a chocolate stout?
>
> No, never heard of it! I'm not a big beer drinker so might
> not be up on all the variations available out there. LOL,
> My son (and his frat brothers) all seem to be up on all
> things beer, wine and liquor. I'll have to ask him if he
> knows of it? I did try some beer with blueberries in it and
> it was...different. Not my cuppa, so to speak.

the fruit beers tend to be wheat based, &, of all the fruits,
blueberry is the most variable... it's not something i'd
bother brewing.
we make a really good maple beer, with a proprietary recipe.
it's *way* better than any commercial maple beer. they use
maple syrup to replace some of the sugar. we have a better
way. ours tastes like maple
we also have an unhopped herbal beer that's pretty good,
especially as a summer refresher, & three types of spruce beer
(it's almost spruce beer season. the new growth is coming
out)...
i don't really drink beer. i brew it & i taste test, but i
really prefer just plain water or cider, if i want alcohol.

lee
--
Last night while sitting in my chair
I pinged a host that wasn't there
It wasn't there again today
The host resolved to NSA.

On Sat, 31 May 2008 20:12:01 +0000 (UTC), enigma >
wrote:

>Goomba > wrote in
:
>
>> To everyone who submitted ideas for the brownie fix up...
>> THANK YOU!! I will remember many of these ideas. The peanut
>> butter or cheesecake filling ones sound ideal! Salted
>> peanuts go well with chocolate so Salted peanuts also would
>> go well with the keg, hence would chocolate go with beer?
>> Hmmmmmmm?
>
> of course. haven't you ever had a chocolate stout? we have,
>in our seasonal rotation or brews, a very nice chocolate
>peppermint stout (neither of us like it, but it's in huge
>demand as holiday gifts). we're currently working on
>developing a chocolate cherry-chile stout...
> so, yeah, chocolate & beer go together just fine
>lee

that's as may be, but i doubt these guys were sitting around
discussing the nose and flavor notes of the beer in their keg.

but maybe fratboys are different in this day and age. <thinks> nah.

your pal,
blake

On Sun, 1 Jun 2008 00:39:21 +0000 (UTC), enigma >
wrote:

>Goomba > wrote in
:
>
>> enigma wrote:
>>
>>> of course. haven't you ever had a chocolate stout?
>>
>> No, never heard of it! I'm not a big beer drinker so might
>> not be up on all the variations available out there. LOL,
>> My son (and his frat brothers) all seem to be up on all
>> things beer, wine and liquor. I'll have to ask him if he
>> knows of it? I did try some beer with blueberries in it and
>> it was...different. Not my cuppa, so to speak.
>
> the fruit beers tend to be wheat based, &, of all the fruits,
>blueberry is the most variable... it's not something i'd
>bother brewing.
> we make a really good maple beer, with a proprietary recipe.
>it's *way* better than any commercial maple beer. they use
>maple syrup to replace some of the sugar. we have a better
>way. ours tastes like maple
> we also have an unhopped herbal beer that's pretty good,
>especially as a summer refresher, & three types of spruce beer
>(it's almost spruce beer season. the new growth is coming
>out)...

spruce beer and retsina brandy for a greek boilermaker.

your pal,
blake

In article >,
Goomba > wrote:
> I even donated some flank steaks to the cook out. Am I not the coolest
> mom EVER!??!

You ARE! Known for a long time, too!! (Make sure you spell my name
right on the check, eh?)

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
Huffy and Bubbles Do France: http://www.jamlady.eboard.com

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
. ..
> Goomba wrote:
>> Other than the obvious nuts or no nuts, does anyone do anything to dress
>> up a standard store bought brownie mix?
>> Son is holding a "grill & keg" birthday party for his roommate and asked
>> me to make a cake. Not having time before work, I just put together some
>> brownies but wanted to make them a bit special and came up blank. So for
>> future reference......
>> Thanks
>
>
> I usually throw a cup of chocolate chips into the mix and pecans.
>
> I also have two recipes that make yummy variations:
>
> --cream cheese beaten with egg and sugar and swirled through the batter
>
> --melted caramels and something (butter, maybe?) swirled in the batter.

I have placed half the brownie batter in the pan, then topped with melted
caramels, then the remaining brownie batter.

Tres yummy.

TammyM